Monday, December 9, 2024

myasperations 12-8-24

     I am honored to have served as a Guest Designer for Beccy Muir at Beccy’s Place and am now one of her “Contributors” (which means that she provides me with digis, or clear stamp sets several times a year and I get to create cards/other items with them!) Beccy is a kind and generous person, and it’s always fun to see the images she invites me to use.   This time, the digi sets are both Christmas-themed.

     This first one, named “Christmas Trees” provided me with a perfect image for paper-piecing. Since I like fussy-cutting, and have lots of Christmas paper scraps, this technique is a favorite of mine! I printed two copies of the tree, sized to fit onto an A2 sized card front.  I fussy-cut the first and set it aside. The second was my paper-piecing template. Before cutting the pieces apart, I numbered each of them to help put the “tree puzzle” back together correctly! I used just two plaid papers to create my tree, but you can use as many patterns/colors as desired. Putting them together was a bit tedious, but I like the look of the finished tree! The rest of the card went together quickly with sentiments, a flurry of little star sticker “Ornaments” and no coloring at all (which is so very difficult for me!)
    
Supplies: 
·   Digi and Sentiments- Beccy's Place Digi Set (Christmas Trees

·   Woodgrain Paper and Sparkly Holographic Star Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- available from several sources on the web.

·   Papers (plaids, glittery red, metallic silver) and other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
Double D’s Challenge- Christmas Ornaments  
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Anything Christmas/Holiday Greeting (twist- add a hint of red)   
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge- Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #677-678 
Colorful Options Monthly Challenge: December-Red, Green and/or Gold  

    Beccy's second Christmas-themed digi set, “Christmas Puddings”, gave me a perfect image for paper-piecing. I colored the digi with markers and a white gel pen and used a template to trim it into an oval shape. A few remaining scraps of the plaid papers helped frame this card's front digi and inside sentiment. I have never tasted, or even seen, Christmas Pudding, so I used photos on the web to assist in my coloring. That said, I wish I had instead used Beccy’s pre-colored puddings on her WM digi set image for that task. They look so yummy!! (Beccy’s coloring is always stellar, and I hadn’t even thought of checking her puddings for inspiration. Duh!!!)
                                                                   
Supplies: 
·   Digi and Sentiments- Beccy's Place Digi Set (Christmas Puddings

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Woodgrain Paper-Hobby Lobby

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- available from several sources on the web.

·   Oval template from my scrapbook stash, plaid papers, and other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge #586 Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas) 
Outlawz Challenge-Dec 2024 Linky  
Di’s Digi Stamps-Winter Holidays 
Allsorts Challenge- Week 810-AG (It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas)

     I’ve also loved being a DT for Sheepski Designs, as owner/artist Andrea Norris is also a kind and generous artist/owner. This digi is one that I just requested, mainly because I love teddy bears, and “Augie” is the cutest teddy EVAH especially when awaiting the arrival of “the Big Guy!” I wanted Augie’s fur to look well-loved so colored him with a pale tan marker, then bounced the blender pen along the top of Augie’s head and down his left side, adding both highlights and a thread-worn look. Paired with a cozy background scene and sentiments from two Beccy’s Place digi sets, the finished card is all I’d hoped it would be!
    An added note- I received the fireside scene on the front of the card after I signed up several months ago to receive free downloads of original patterned papers (including scenes like this one), sentiments and ephemera from artist Sande Woodson. You can sign up to receive her weekly freebies (HERE) and find some of Sande’s freebies on her FB page (Sande's Poema Card Making Community)
Supplies: 
·   Digi- Sheepski Designs (Augie)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, blender, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Woodgrain Paper-Hobby Lobby

·   Christmas scene on the front of the card is from Sande's Poema Freebies (November 2024-Week 3 Cozy Winter)

·   Front Sentiment-“Here Comes Santa Claus” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Simply Santa) Retired

·   Inside Sentiment- “Wishing You a Bright and Happy Christmas” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Jingle Bells)

·   Sookwang double sided tape- available from several sources on the web.

·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into: 
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Dec)    Santa’s Village 
BLOG Sheepski Designs- Dec 2024 (Anything Goes) 
          Since I’m a DT for Sheepski Designs, I’m entering just for fun!  

Sunday, December 1, 2024

myasperations 12-1-24

    I wanted to make another beachy Christmas card with the digi set from Beccy’s Place digi named “Sandy Christmas” to have on hand as we know several “snowbirds” who might enjoy it! The card went together pretty quickly with an upcycled calendar page, and flowers fussy-cut from patterned paper I’ve had in my stash since 2005 (I can remember packing it before a major cross-country move.)
     I knew I wanted to use an upcycled calendar scene for the background but wouldn’t be able to fussy-cut around all the delicate pieces near the snowman (his name is Nigel) so I traced a circle around him, and sketched the ocean background waves with pencil. I used watercolor paints to carefully extend the ocean waves into the circle. It’s not perfect, but it’ll work.
     I received the pretty watercolor beach scene on the inside of the card after I signed up several months ago to receive free downloads of original patterned paper (including this beach scene), related sentiments, and ephemera from artist Sande Woodson. You can sign up to receive her weekly freebies (HERE) and find some of Sande’s freebies on her FB page (Sande's Poema Card Making Community)
  
Suplies: 

·   Front scene is upcycled from an old calendar page.

·   Inside Beach scene is from Sande's Poema Freebies (June 2024-Week 2 Vintage Tropical) 

·   Digi and sentiments are from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Sandy Christmas)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Sookwang double sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into: 
CRAFT Challenge  #742 Christmas
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas) 
Outlawz Challenge- Nov 2024 Linky  
Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #683 AG  (Optional twist- Blue Christmas) 
       Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!  
Beccy’s Place Challenge- Dec
     Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!  

      The fun card features a handful of digis from three sources, backgrounds made with digis and sentiments from The Paper Shelter, Beccy’s Place, and Polkadoodles; an upcycled calendar page; an old card; torn paper strips to create “sand” below the pirates’ boots; and flowers fussy-cut from patterned paper I’ve had in my stash since 2005 (I can remember packing it before a major cross country move.) It was especially fun to create the treasure inside of the card with assorted stickers, rhinestones, stickles and liquid pearls.
                                      
                                           
Supplies: 

·   Pirate and Treasure Chest Digi’s- from The Paper Shelter digi set (Treasure Hunt)

·   Pirate Hat Digi- from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (There’s A Hat For That)

·   Map and Parrot Digi’s- Free clipart from vecteezy.com HERE

·   Shading and highlights added to pre-colored digis using Spectrum Noir Classique Markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Backgrounds on front and inside of card- upcycled and old wedding card and calendar

·   Sentiments “Shiver Me Timbers… Birthday” and “You’re My Treasure” from Polkadoodles digi set (Pirate Dude)

·   Silver and Gold crown stickers- Hobby Lobby

·   Sookwang double sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   Cardstock, Stickles, Liquid Pearls, and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge #585 Anything Goes
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes  
Paper Funday- #71 Anything Goes     

      My final post features an image from a Dover Publications coloring book named Creative Haven Christmas Inspirations. I signed up for the Dover Publications weekly newsletter several years ago and have appreciated that it regularly emails links to a half dozen coloring and activity books, each offering 4-5 pages available for a short time as free downloads. This is one of those free pages. I used watercolors to paint and shade the cookies, giving them a soft and crumbly feeling. I then used Sakura Glaze gel pens to color the frosting. When dry, it gave the frosting the hard shiny look of Royal Icing. (Note- I’m glad I always test markers and gel pens on scrap paper before I put them onto my cards!) That is how I learned that the white Glaze gel pen is a bit translucent. So, I first added white “piping” to the gingerbread cookies with my Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen to put down a base of white, then the Glaze pen added the desired shine!)
     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Cupcake Inspirations: Color Challenge (my cookies include red, yellow, and toffee brown), and Path Of Positivity Challenge: Friends/Family (during the holidays, I’ve always relished home-made cookies made by family and friends, a gift of them meant love, and spending time with family/friends during the holidays provided some of my favorite memories. So this is the provided quote that resonates with me.  “Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with family and friends.” — Thomas S. Monson)
                                               
               
Supplies

·   Christmas Cookies with Sentiment- from a Dover Publications Coloring Book (Creative Haven Christmas Inspirations)

·   Colored with Watercolor paints, Sakura Glaze gel pens, and Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Inside Sentiment- “A Happy Christmas to You”-The Paper Shelter Digi Set (Vintage Xmas Designs)

·   Small Gingerbread cookies embellishing inside sentiment- Fussy-cut from Hobby Lobby patterned paper

·   Gold photo corners available from several web sources (WXJ13 Photo Mounting Corners)

·   Sookwang double-sided tape- Available from several sources on the web.

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Path Of Positivity Challenge- Challenge #125 (Friends/Family)  
Allsorts Challenge- Week 809
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #675-676 
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Dec)    Cookies: Epcot’s Holiday Stroll (Disneyworld FL),    

Saturday, November 30, 2024

myasperations 11-30-24

     After spending the day enjoying a delayed Thanksgiving celebration of eating, drinking, gabbing, and laughing with friends and family, I get to end my day posting to my blog... another thing I enjoy!
   I created this card for the current Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge using a sweet digi from All Dressed Up Designs. The intensely curious look on the cute pups face inspired me to pair him with the sentiment “Here Comes Santa Claus!”  And, as always… I love coloring sweaters! Because of the size of the stitches in this one, I kept it fairly simple, just adding crosshatching with my white pen and a Pentel lead pencil.
Supplies: 

·   Digi- All Dressed Up Stamps (Sledging Pup)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white & silver gel pens and a Pentel mechanical lead pencil

·   Red hearts cut from paper scraps

·   Front Sentiment-“Here Comes Santa Claus” from Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Simply Santa) Retired

·   Inside Sentiment- “Wishing You a Bright and Happy Christmas” from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Jingle Bells)

·   Candy Canes trimmed from patterned paper

·   Patterned papers andother items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Passion for Markers Challenge- Week #767: Fall or Winter 
All Dressed Up- Anything Goes (Nov #157
All Dressed Up FB Challenge- November: Christmas is Coming  
Park Hopping-My Happy Place (Nov)    The Secret Life of Pets (Universal Studios) 

      This card features a cute feline named “Leroy” from a Beccy’s Place digi set. Although he has a look of innocence on his face, I can almost hear the background music from the movie “Jaws” as his eyes lock onto the ornament. The inside sentiment, with the help of a few scraps and candy cane embellies, silver cord, and even a bit of tinsel, tells “The rest of the story.”
Supplies: 

·   Cat Digi and sentiments from a Beccy’s Place Digi Set (Christmas Kitties)

·   Colored with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·   Evergreen swags/branches fussy-cut from an old card

·   Candy Canes embellishing inside sentiment are trimmed from patterned paper

·   Patterned papers, scrap of silver cord and other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes  
       Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place (sponsor), I’m entering just for fun!  
Beccy’s Place: A Month of Holiday Cards- Nov 2024   Day 17 - O is for Ornament
      Since I’m a Contributor for Beccy’s Place, I’m entering just for fun!  
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Christmas) 
Outlawz Challenge- Nov 2024 Linky  

     Christmas at our house includes some wonderful traditions. We decorate the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving and then start watching a few Christmas-related movies we’ve collected over the last few decades every weekend from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. We have “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “The Christmas Carol” (2 versions), “While You Were Sleeping”, “The Holiday”, “New in Town”, “The Nativity Story”, and round out the holidays with two New Years themed movies, “The Last Holiday” and “Sleepless In Seattle.”  
      One of our favorite movie-watching treats is popcorn, however, during the holidays season, we make a very yummy (but unhealthy) popcorn mix that inspired this card! The background of the card is a copy of the recipe for the yummy treat in case you would like to try it. However, be warned... it is very addictive.  My hubby jokingly calls it "popcorn crack" !!! (One added note, the recipe came from a dear friend named Linda... hence her name is in the title.)  Also, the recipe contains a few notes in pencil, plus a few stains because both my hubby and I really throw ourselves into making anything that includes chocolate. And, when finished we fight over who gets to lick the spoon like we did as kids!
     The embellishments for the card were created by taking a photo of a Popcorn sign at our local Marketplace Grocery Store (they gave me permission to take the photo). I cropped out one large clump of popcorn (see photo) and printed off a few copies which I adhered along the side edges of the recipe. I fussy-cut several extra pieces of popcorn, plus fussy-cut photos of M&Ms from a large bag of my favorite candy. Then I positioned the copies of popcorn and candies, taping them down as I went along overlapping and sliding them into place on both the inside and front of the card. (An important note- No chocolate was wasted in the making of this card! When I was finished, so was the contents of the original bag of nummy MMs!)  
     I’m entering this card into several challenges including Cupcake Inspirations: Color Challenge (my card  includes red, golden yellow and brown candies, toffee brown background, plus red and tan frame around the recipe.)  
 
   
 
Supplies: 
·   Background recipe- copied from my original

·   Popcorn and M&M’s- fussy-cut from photo and candy bag

·   Inside Sentiment- ”May your holidays be sweet!” from Imagine That! Digi set (Gingerbread Cookies and Cocoa) No longer available

·   All other items from my stash.

Entered into:  
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #675-676